Fresh Start Family Show

In this episode of The Fresh Start Family Show, Wendy invites parents into a powerful reset, one that goes far beyond New Year’s resolutions. She explores how fresh starts are created through intention, nervous system safety, and the courage to imagine something better for your family. Wendy unpacks why misbehavior is often a signal, not a problem, and how breaking generational cycles begins with understanding what’s happening beneath the surface, for both parents and kids. You’ll hear how collective energy, community support, and regulation-first parenting can help you move from reactive patterns into more peace, joy, and connection at home. This episode is a grounding, hopeful reminder that it’s never too late to rewire old habits, rebuild trust, and create family dynamics that truly feel good. If you’re ready to reset your parenting approach and start the year with clarity and confidence, this conversation will meet you right where you are. Head to https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/305  for more info and guest links. 📆 Save the date for my FREE workshop - The Empowered Parenting Reset - happening January 28. Mark your calendar bc you're not going to want to miss this... 📕Grab my FREE Quick Start Learning Bundle & discover 3 secrets to empower, connect, and build true collaboration with your strong-willed child! Head here to learn more! 👉https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/thrive 🗺 The Firm & Kind Parenting Blueprint is your step by step plan & video training to help you build the family of your dreams. Click here to learn more! 👉⁠⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/firmandkind ⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wendy and Terry kick off the new year with an honest, heart-led reflection on 2025, the moments that stretched them, shaped their family, and changed them in ways they didn’t fully recognize at the time. From navigating grief and faith to watching their kids step into confidence, leadership, and generosity, they share what this past year taught them about trust, commitment, and listening to intuition, even when outcomes weren’t guaranteed. They talk candidly about what it really takes to stay all-in through uncertainty, in parenting, marriage, and everyday life. They also share their Word of the Year for 2026, inviting listeners into a simpler, more trusting way of moving forward and choosing what truly matters next. This episode is reflective, real, and deeply encouraging, perfect for parents who want to begin the year feeling connected, clear, and anchored in what matters most. Perfect for parents reflecting on the past year and stepping into a more intentional new year of family life. Head to https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/304 for more info and guest links. 📕Grab my FREE Quick Start Learning Bundle & discover 3 secrets to empower, connect, and build true collaboration with your strong-willed child! Head here to learn more! 👉https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/thrive 🗺 The Firm & Kind Parenting Blueprint is your step by step plan & video training to help you build the family of your dreams. Click here to learn more! 👉⁠⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/firmandkind ⁠⁠ 🔔 Don't forget to check us out over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if your cycle wasn’t something to “get through”—but a secret superpower? In this empowering episode, Wendy sits down with hormone health practitioner Kate Nguy to explore how syncing with your hormonal rhythm can transform the way you parent, work, and care for yourself. Kate shares her personal story of healing infertility, the surprising truth about cortisol and stress, and how understanding the four seasons of your cycle—spring, summer, fall, and winter—can help you regulate your nervous system, communicate with more ease, and parent with greater patience and presence. 🔍 What You’ll Learn: How your cycle impacts mood, energy, communication, and parenting capacity Simple ways to align your life with your hormonal phases Nervous system support through hormone awareness Real-life parenting hacks for each “season” of your cycle Whether you’ve felt unstoppable one week and overwhelmed the next—this conversation will help it all make sense. You’ll walk away feeling seen, validated, and equipped to stop fighting your body and start honoring it. Head to https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/303  for more info and guest links. ⭐️​Grab my FREE Quick Start Compassionate Discipline Learning Bundle today and discover how to build a strong, compassionate, FIRM & effective discipline toolkit that works with kids of ALL ages!! 👉 https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/discipline 🗺 The Firm & Kind Parenting Blueprint is your step by step plan & video training to help you build the family of your dreams. Click here to learn more! 👉⁠⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/firmandkind ⁠⁠ 🔔 Don't forget to check us out over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Want to help your child build real emotional resilience—without power struggles or shame? In this heart-centered and science-backed episode, Wendy sits down with educator, content creator, and former Sesame Street director Anna Housley Juster, Ph.D., LICSW to explore how play, brain science, and emotional literacy help kids build true self-regulation. Anna explains how the amygdala works, why threat responses show up so fast, and how connection, storytelling, and simple co-regulation tools can help both kids (and parents) feel safe and calm during big emotional moments. 🧠 What You’ll Learn: How to spot real vs perceived threats in kids' behavior Why emotional literacy is key to nervous system regulation Playful, brain-aware tools that soothe big feelings How to model co-regulation without being perfect This is a grounded, hopeful conversation filled with practical strategies to build emotional safety, resilience, and lifelong mental health—starting right where you are. Head to https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/302 for more info and guest links. ⭐️​Grab my FREE Quick Start Compassionate Discipline Learning Bundle today and discover how to build a strong, compassionate, FIRM & effective discipline toolkit that works with kids of ALL ages!! 👉 https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/discipline 🗺 The Firm & Kind Parenting Blueprint is your step by step plan & video training to help you build the family of your dreams. Click here to learn more! 👉⁠⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/firmandkind ⁠⁠ 🔔 Don't forget to check us out over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Raising Kids with a Faith Rooted in Love—not Fear In this tender and hope-filled episode, Wendy talks with author Mariko Clark and illustrator Rachel Eleanor, creators of The Book of Belonging—a reimagined children’s Bible centered on original goodness, emotional literacy, inclusive imagery, and a deeply compassionate view of God. Together, they explore what it means to raise kids with a faith rooted in love, equity, and belonging—especially when you’re navigating your own journey of healing from high-control theology or rethinking inherited beliefs. 💛 What You’ll Learn: How to introduce Scripture without fear, shame, or pressure Why representation in spiritual spaces matters deeply for kids How embodied, relational practices help children feel safe with God The story behind The Book of Belonging and its gentle theology Whether you’re deconstructing, rebuilding, or somewhere in the beautifully messy middle—this conversation will remind you: you’re not alone. Head to https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/301  for more info and guest links. ⭐️​Grab my FREE Quick Start Compassionate Discipline Learning Bundle today and discover how to build a strong, compassionate, FIRM & effective discipline toolkit that works with kids of ALL ages!! 👉 https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/discipline 🗺 The Firm & Kind Parenting Blueprint is your step by step plan & video training to help you build the family of your dreams. Click here to learn more! 👉⁠⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/firmandkind ⁠⁠ 🔔 Don't forget to check us out over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices